Jason Newsted Says He Gave Himself Chronic "Whiplash" From Headbanging

By Andrew Magnotta @AndrewMagnottaOct 15, 2019

Art Miami/CONTEXT Art Miami 2017

Jason Newsted has revealed that he is one of many veteran heavy metal musicians to suffer from neck problems after to a career of viciously whipping his head to and fro to the beat.

Before joining Metallica, Newsted earned himself a reputation as a ferocious live performer in the band Flotsam & Jetsam. During his 15 years with Metallica, Newsted never slowed down and brought it each and every night.

"It's been a lot of time, 25-ish years of headbanging," he said. "I gave myself whiplash. And so, through the years, doctors of all different languages and countries, they told me, 'No more that, no more spinning head.'"

The bassist says he was first advised to stop headbanging about 10 years ago, before doing an album with his eponymous metal band.

Newsted says he's had nerve issues, "all tangles and mangles," due to the damage he's done to his spinal cord. He can't completely quell the urge to rock, but he says the issues have provided as good an excuse as any to pursue less sonically intense music as a means of expression.

Lately, Newsted has been performing more acoustic guitar-based music. While it doesn't have the raw power of Metallica, he says it's no less meaningful.

"The juice is still the same," he added. "The energy is still the same. The amps are a little smaller."